Fruit jar cap



July 18, 1933. A, L. SCHRAM 6 FRUIT JAR CAP Filed June 25, 1931 WVE/VTOP ALEXANDER L. SCHRAM Patented July 18, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE i ALEXANDER L. SCHR-AM, 0F HILLSBORO, ILLINOIS FRUITJAB CAP Application filed June 25, 1931. Serial No. 546,786.

Figure 1 is a fragmentary view of a fruit jar, showing my cap thereon;

"Figure 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view therethrough; i i I Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary plan View of the cap, as seen from below and showing the sealing edge clearly; and

F'gure dis a similar detail, as seen in elevation.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, wherein I have illustrated a preferred embodiment of my invention, A indicates a jar of a widely used type, commonly known as a Mason jar. Such a jar is provided with V a neck portion 1 at its upper, open end, and at a short distance above the main, enlarged portion of the is provided with an outwardly projecting circumferential flange or head 2 integral with the neck, and acting as a seat for the sealing ring or gasket 3.

Above the flange 2 and also formed integral with the neck of the jar are the molded threads 4 adapted to engage with similarly pitched screw threads formed on a cap adapted to co-operate with the jar so as to form a seal or closure therefor.

The cap B is preferably formed of sheet metal, in any desirable manner, so as to have a top plate portion 5 preferably provided with a recess for receiving and retaining a (i liner element 6, the latter most often being of a vitreous material such as glass or porcelain.

A flange 7 extends from the top of the plate, to form a peripheral wall therefor, and screw threads 8 are formed in this longitudinally extending flange, to co-operate and engage with the threads 4 of the jar.

The lower peripheral edge of the flange 7 is preferably formed with a closely rolled, outwardly flared bead thereabout, as at .9, this bead acting as a reinforcement and preventing the spreading of the sealing edge of the cap due to too much pressure being exerted to seal the same, as it is to be noted that This invention relates to improvements in fruit ar caps, and more particularly to caps adapted for sealing jars of the Masonar type, and has asits principal object the production of a cap of the kind described, which will form an extremely eflicient sealto pre-} vent leakage into or from the jar.

A further object of my invention 15 to produce a jar cap of the kind described, in whlch the sealing edge of the same will be suitably roughened so as to imbed itself into the sealing gasket and prevent the latter from blowing outor otherwise becoming laterallydlsplaced from its sealing position.

Another object of my invention 1s to provide an increased sealing surface to engage with the sealing gasket, as compared to the present type of caps, and in addition soform this surface that it willofl'er the greatest resistance to the gasket from becoming laterally displaced. i

A still'further object of my lnVlltlOnds to producea fruit jar cap of the kind descrlbed, which shall have all of the attributes above mentioned, and whichin addition, shall not bite into the gasket sufliciently to puncture or cut the latter so as tor-ender it useless for the purpose intended Other objects of the invent1on are to so construct said fruit ar cap that it will be neat and attractive in appearance,'shall not be dangerous to use, strong and sturdy in construction, easy to apply or remove, economical, and which shall be otherwise satisfactory and efficient for use wherever found most applicable.

Many other objects and advantages of the construction herein shown and described will be obvious to those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains, from the disclosures herein given.

To this end, my invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and combination of parts herein shown and described,

and the uses mentioned, and more particu: larly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawing, wherein like reference characters indicate like or corresponding parts throughout the views,

such a reinforced edge will make the cap sub stantially rigid thereat. Further, this rounded, tubular edge will present a smooth surface so as to prevent a person from cutting his hands at the lower edge of the cap While handling the same, as in applying, removing or cleaning the cap.

Instead of having the lowermost surface of the sealing edge of the cap truly circular in cross-section, I have found it more advantageous to somewhat flatten this edge so as to thereby produce a larger gasket-engaging area at the sealing periphery,as indicated at 10.

To still further improve thesealing edge, and to insure that the gasket will notblow out or otherwise become displaced laterally of the jar or cap, while in service, I haveprovided additional means thereat,in the form of ridges or corrugations 11, or other suitable roughened surface at the sealing edge 10.

These ridges 11 are spaced apart about the sealing surface 10 so as to extend-about the entire periphery thereof. Forthe-purpose of presenting a maximum amount of resistance against movement of the gasket laterally of the jar, asin blowing out and the like, 1 preferably have these ridges-extending at an angle to the circumference. In

- other words, a radially extending ridge would present the minimum amount of resistance to radial displacement of the gasket,

while ridges at an angleincrease this resistance. 1

It is of course'to be noted thatth'ese corrugations should not be sharp enough to either injure the hands or to cut throughthe gasket, and to this end, they may have the flattened peaks indicated in the drawing.

These ridges or corrugations, or other suitable manner of roughening may be formed in the sealing edge of the cap by any desired tool andin any desired manner. I

Having thus described -my invention, it is obvious that immaterial changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of my invention; henceI do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the exact form, construction, arrangement and combination shown. and described, and the uses mentione'd, except as limitedby-the state of the art to which this invention appertains, or the claims hereto appended.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A screw-threaded jar cap formed of metal and having its lower sealing edge adapted to engage a compressible gasket and provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced corrugations therealong and extendingother "than normal to the peripheral sealing edge.

2) A Mason jar cap formed of metal and having a flattened, "rigid lower edge provided with non-radially extending corrugationscircumferentially spaced apart therealong and adapted to engage a sealing gasket. 7

3. A fruit jar-closure comprising a screwthreaded caphaving a close-rolled rigid sealing edge flared outwardly about its :lower peripheral edge, and a compressible gasket having 'a substantially flat upper side on which said edge is adapted to engage to seal said jar against leakage, said sealing edge provided with cireumferentially spaced ridges thereaboutand extending in a direction other thannorinal to the periphery thereof.

4. A fruit jar closure comprising ascrewthreadedmetal cap having a tightly-rolled bead to form a lower peripheral sealingedge, and a substantially flat-topped compressible gasket between said-jar and cap and adapted to'be compressed tosealthe aragainst leak- ALEXANDER L. S HRAM. 

